Self-locking valve with unitary locking element

ABSTRACT

A self-locking valve with means for preventing flow-induced movement of the flow control member, thereby releasably locking the valve at any desired setting. A unitary lock element, in the form of a plate, extends radially between a valve-operating shaft and a concentric arcuate wall of a fixed coaxial sleeve. A drive arm underlies the lock element and is affixed to the shaft for rotation therewith. A valve-adjusting member is mounted for rotation coaxially of the shaft and is provided with dependent leg portions which straddle the lock element and the drive arm to engage them simultaneously and maintain them in alignment or registry during the operative rotation of the valve. When the desired valve setting has been achieved, any flow-induced rotation of the shaft causes misalignment of the locking element with the drive arm and causes camming means on the shaft to displace the lock element into locking engagement with the arcuate wall surface so that the previously adjusted valve setting is not distributed.

SELF-LOCKING VALVE WITH UNITARY LOCKING ELEMENT BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The invention is directed to flow control valves, particularlythose which are utilized for liquid flow control and which use arotatable flow control member, such as a valve plug or valve ball,customarily used in connection with firefighting lines or hoses. Suchvalves are required to control or meter water or other liquids flowingat high volumes and under high pressure. When the valve is adjusted to ametering position which lies between the fully opened and fully closedpositions of the valve, the liquid flow impresses a rotational forceupon the valve ball or plug which tends to rotate it away from thepreviously established setting toward one of its extreme positions, suchas the fully open or the fully closed position.

In order to overcome this undesirable characteristic, valveconstructions have been proposed which embody some form of lockingfeature which resists such flow-induced rotation of the flow controlmember, but does not interfere with the normal operative adjustment ofthe valve settings. A valve construction embodying such a lockingfeature is described in my US. Pat. No. 3,198,477 for "Self-LockingValve which discloses a dual spring-loaded roller clutch arrangement formaintaining the valve locked against rotation in one direction or theother. For effecting desired adjustment of the valve setting, one rollerclutch or the other, depending upon the direction of rotation, isdisplaced in opposition to the spring to release the lock and permitadjustment of the valve to control the fluid flow. Such a lockingarrangement involves a rather critical dimensional relationship betweenthe roller clutches and the elements with which they are engaged. Theseelements are screw-threaded to permit the necessary fine adjustment ofthis dimensional relationship after all the parts of the valve areassembled and requires the use of specially designed tools for thatpurpose. Once this fine adjustment has been made, the screw threads areupset or peined to fix the relationship pennanently and no furtheradjustments can be made, as required by wear or other circumstances,unless the valve is disassembled and the adjustable elements arereplaced.

It will also be noted that the patented valve construction results in anormally locked condition of thevalve at all times, except during thetime that it is being manually adjusted to a changed flow controlsetting. This condition exists even though the circumstances for whichthe locking feature is desired and which it is intended to overcome,does not occur. Thus, because the valve is locked even when such lockingaction may not be required, it is possible that corrosion or dirt canneedlessly cause the valve to stick or interfere with the lock-releasingoperation in circumstances where the locking action was not required andperformed no useful function. Additionally, the patented constructioninvolves a multiplicity of small and often delicate parts which requireprecision machining and an extremely high level of quality control forsatisfactory performance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention eliminates the need for a dualset of parts for performing the locking function and also eliminates theneed for a high degree of precision in manufacture of the parts used, byemploying a unitary lock element in the form of a simple bar or plate,which requires no adjustment either before, during or after assembly ofthe valve. The lock plate functions to lock the valve only in responseto a condition of flow-induced rotation of the valve ball, so that thevalve is normally in an unlocked condition and can be freely adjustedwithout the complication of first releasing the locking arrangement. Byutilizing a valve construction with the self-locking feature describedhereinafter, the valve conduction is simplified, the use of specialtools for adjustment of the lock assembly is eliminated, the necessityfor adjustment during assembly is likewise eliminated and the number andcomplexity of the parts involved is substantially reduced.

Ill

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a vertical cross sectionalview of a valve construction embodying the features of the invention,taken in the plane indicated by the line 1-1 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken as indicated on line 2-2 of FIG.I.

FIG. 3 is another cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 2, but taken inthe plane indicated by the line 3-3 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken substantially asindicated on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly tothe drawings, there is shown a valve 10 having a flow control member inthe form of a valve ball 11 which is rotatably mounted within a valvebody 12. The valve ball 11 is provided with a diametrically extendingflow passageway or orifice 13 which, in the flow or metering adjustmentof the valve 10, is rotated from a fully closed position, where thepassageway 13 is sealed off from or out of communication with the fluidflow in the pipes or lines, to a fully open position, in which thepassageway 13 is in-line with the liquid flow. For a fuller descriptionof in-line ball valves of this type, reference is made to the aforesaidUS. Pat. No. 3,198,477.

The angular position of the valve ball 11 with respect to the liquidflow in the lines is accomplished by rotation of a trunnion or shaft 14which is connected to the ball 11. The shaft 14 is joumaled in thebearing portion 15 of a sleeve element 16 which is fixedly secured tothe valve body 12. The upper portion of the sleeve 16 is of increasedinternal diameter and presents an arcuate wall surface 17 concentricwith the axis of the shaft 14 and radially spaced therefrom.

The upper end of the cylindrical shaft 14 is machined to provide one ormore camming surfaces, here shown as longitudinally extending flats" orplane surfaces 18; there being four of such surfaces 18 indicated, whichprovide the upper end of the shaft with a noncircular portion ofsubstantially square cross section. It will be understood that thequantity and arrangement of the camming surfaces shown in the drawingsis merely exemplary of a preferred form of the invention and that agreater or lesser quantity of such camming surfaces may be utilized as amatter of choice, although only one of such camming surfaces isnecessary in accordance with the principles of the invention.

Secured to the upper end of the shaft M for rotation therewith is adrive element 19 having a radially extending drive arm 20 projectingoutwardly from the shaft toward the arcuate wall surface 17. The numberof such -drive arms and the angular spacing thereof would correspond tothe number and angular spacing of the camming surfaces 1s. The driveelement 19 is provided with a hub or collar 21 which is recessed or cutout as at 22 to provide the opposed circumferentially spaced shoulders23 and 24. A stop pin 25 is removably secured to the sleeve 16 andprojects radially thereof into the recess 22 so as to lie in the path ofrotative movement of the shoulders 23 and 24. The shoulders 23 and 24are angularly spaced from each other sufficiently to permit the shaft14, to which the drive element 19 is secured, to be rotated from thefully closed to the fully open positions of the valve ball 11, or viceversa. before the rotation of the shaft 14 is arrested by the abutmentof the end of the stop pin 25 with the shoulder 23 or the shoulder 24,as the case may be. By utilizing a noncircular cross section for theupper end of the shaft 14 and a conforming central opening 26 in thedrive element 19, the drive element can be easily and convenientlymounted on the end of the shaft for coaxial rotation therewith withoutthe necessity for using any pins, setscrews or other ad ditionalsecuring means.

The drive element I9 may be longitudinally supported on the shaft 14 bythe abutment of the lower edge of the collar 21 with the annularshoulder 27 formed on the shaft by the termination of the surfaces 18 orit may be supported by an antifriction Teflon washer 28 underlying thedrive arms 20 and resting upon an annular shoulder 29 in the sleeve 16.A spacer ring 30 is mounted in the sleeve 16 between the ends of thedrive arms 20 and the arcuate wall surface 17 so as to form an annularledge or shoulder 31 adjacent to the arcuate wall surface 17 andslightly elevated above the upper surface 32 of the drive arm 20.

A lock element 33, in the form of a plate or bar, overlies the drive arm20 and extends between the camming surface 18 of the shaft 14 and thewall surface 17. The outermost end of the lock element 33 is supportedon the ledge or shoulder 31 of the spacer ring so that it is spaced fromthe surface 32 of the underlying drive arm 20. The edge 34 of the lockelement at this outermost end has an arcuate configuration conforming tothe radius of the wall surface 17. The inner end of the lock element 33rests upon the drive element 19, but has no positive engagementtherewith. The edge 35 of this inner end of the lock element 33 has alinear or planar portion 36 which conforms to the plane of the cammingsurface 18. The remainder of the inner edge 35 on either side of thelinear portion 36 is radiused or cut away as at 37 to provide clearancefor the locking movement of the lock element 34, as will bedescribedhereinafter.

It is to be noted that the lock element 33 lies lightly and loosely uponthe drive element 19 and has no positive or driving engagement therewiththat would cause the lock element 33 to move simultaneously with themovement of the drive arm 20. The lock arm 33 lies loosely between thewall surface 17 and the camming surface 18 on the shaft 14 to define orestablish a radial span therebetween. The assembled lock element 33 anddrive element 19 are retained against longitudinal displacement on theshaft 14 by means of a washer 38 secured to the end of the shaft bymeans of a capscrew 39.

A valve-adjusting or valve-operating member 40 is mounted in the upperend of the sleeve 16 for coaxial rotation relatively to the shaft 14.The member 40 is provided with pairs of depending fingers or legs 41,each pair of which straddles an assembled lock element 33 and itsadjacent drive arm 20. However, the opposed faces or abutment surfaces42 of these leg portions 41 are circumferentially spaced to a slightextent from the straddled edges of the lock element 33 and the drive arm20; these straddled edges being indicated by the reference numerals 43and 44 respectively.

The valve-operating member 40 is supported in elevated position withinthe sleeve 16 by the leg portions 41 which rest and ride upon thepreviously described washer 28. The member 40 is retained against upwardlongitudinal displacement by means of a snapring 45 which is secured inan annular recess 46 in the sleeve 16 so as to overlie a Teflon washer47 which is mounted on an annular shoulder 48 of the member 40.

If there is one camming surface 18 employed in the valve construction,then only one locking element 33 would be employed in combination withone drive arm 20 which is straddled by one pair of legs 41 of thevalve-operating member 40. If more than one camming surface 18 isutilized, as illustrated in the drawings, then this combination of drivearm 20, lock plate 33 and straddling leg portions 41 is duplicated inassociation with each such camming surface.

To operate the valve, the member 40 is rotated to cause the surface 42of one of the pair of legs 41 to come into abutment with the straddlededges 43 and 44 of the lock element 33 and the drive arm 20 on one sidethereof. The width of the locking element 33 and of the drive arm 20 issuch that, when the locking element 33 extends radially with respect tothe axis of the shaft 14, the surface 42 abuts the edges 43 and 44simultaneously without affecting the relative position between the parts33 and 20. As the valve-operating member 40 is rotated, the rotation istransmitted through the leg 41 to the drive arm 20 to cause rotation ofthe shaft 14 to any setting within the arc defined by the shoulders 23and 24 of the recess 22. The rotation of the shaft 14 is transmitted tothe valve ball 11 to position its orifice 13 in the desired angularposition to meter the flow of liquid through the valve. inasmuch as thelocking plate 33 is also free to move, it moves contemporaneously withthe rotational movement of the drive arm 20 and of the shaft 14.

When the valve ball has been rotated to the desired position or setting,the manual or power-actuated movement of the member 40 is stopped. iffurther adjustment of the setting is desired, the member 40 is againrotated, either in the same direction or in the opposite direction ofmovement. If the movement is in the opposite direction, the action isthe same as previously described except that the driving abutment isachieved by the surface 42 of the other of the pair of legs 41 againstthe opposite edges 43 and 44 of the parts 33 and 20. There is no lockingaction on the valve in either direction of movement, either during themovement or when the valve has been set at its desired meteringposition.

In the event the force of fluid flow acts upon the valve ball 11 tochange its angular setting, the camming surface 18 will be rotatedrelatively to the lock element 33 so that the lock element no longer hasthe previously described radial relationship to the axis of the shaft14. The radial span defined by the lock element 33 becomes greater thanthe span between the arcuate wall surface 17 and the operative portionof the camming surface 18, as defined by its abutment with the edge 35of the lock element. In effect, only a very small degree of relativemovement between the camming surface 18 and the lock element 33 issufficient to cause displacement of the lock element into binding orlocking relationship with the wall surface 17 so that furtherflow-induced movement of the shaft 14 and the valve ball 11 is arrested.The valve thus remains locked at substantially the setting that wasestablished by the rotation of the member 40. The frictional lockingengagement between the edge 34 of the lock element and the wall surface17 will increase in response to an increase of the component ofrotational force imposed upon the valve ball. Thus, the locking actionis automatic and functions only when the need for it arises.

If, after the locking action has occurred, the member 40 is againrotated to establish a different setting for the valve, the surface 42of one or the other of the straddling legs 41 will first abut either thelock element 33 or the drive arm 20, depending upon whether the member40 is being rotated in the same or an opposite direction to that whichcaused the locking action to occur, and as the abutted part is moved,the lock element 33 is restored to its original radial position so thatfree adjustment of the valve can take place.

in contrast to the self-locking arrangements of the prior art, thelocking element 33 is a single unitary piece which is extremelyeconomical to manufacture on a production basis and which requires nocritical adjustments or no tools for its assembly into the valvestructure. Although various fonns of camming surfaces can be utilized,the plane surface herein described is simple and economical to provideon the shaft 14 and functions extremely effectively within a very smallrange of angular movement of the shaft 14 relatively to the lock element33. As wear occurs on the wall surface 17 or on the edges of the lockelement 33, no replacement of parts or adjustment is necesary as thelocking function will still occur and such wear will merely be reflectedin a slightly less sensitive, but still adequate, range of operation ofthe self-locking construction.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown anddescribed, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a self-locking valve, the combination of a flow control member, ashaft secured to said member for rotating said member between open andclosed positions, a sleeve fixedly mounted in coaxial relationship tosaid shaft and presenting an arcuate wall surface in spaced relationshipto said shaft, a displaceable unitary lock element movably supported tolie between said shaft and said arcuate wall surface and define a radialspan therebetween, means carried by said shaft and engaging said lockelement to effect displacement thereof into locking engagement with saidwall surface in response to angular rotation of said shaft relatively tosaid lock element in either direction, and a valve-operating membermovable into simultaneous engagement with said shaft and said lockelement to effect contemporaneous selective angular rotation thereof,whereby to prevent displacement of said lock element into said lockingengagement.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein a portion of said lockelement extends radially between said shaft and said wall surface duringsaid contemporaneous rotation.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said means decreasessaid radial span in response to said relative rotation of said shaft.

4. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said means comprises acamming surface carried by said shaft and engaging one end of said lockelement.

5. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said shaft iscylindrical and said camming surface is provided by a noncylindricalarea on said shaft.

6. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said noncylindrical areais a first planar surface and said one end of said lock element presentsa second planar surface abutting said first planar surface.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein the other end of saidlock element presents an arcuate surface conforming to said arcuate wallsurface.

8. A combination as defined in claim 2, whereinsaid portion of said lockelement extends nonradially between said shaft and said wall surface inresponse to displacement by said means.

9. A combination as defined in claim 1, including a drive arm providedon said shaft for rotation therewith and extending radially therefrominto the path of movement of said valve operating member.

10. A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said lock elementoverlies said drive arm and is coincident therewith.

11. A combination as vdef'med in claim 10, wherein said valve-operatingmember is provided with projecting leg por tions straddling said drivearm and said lock element.

12. A combination as defined in claim 11, wherein said valve-operatingmember is rotatably mounted in said sleeve coaxially of said shaft.

1. In a self-locking valve, the combination of a flow control member, ashaft secured to said member for rotating said member between open andclosed positions, a sleeve fixedly mounted in coaxial relationship tosaid shaft and presenting an arcuate wall surface in spaced relationshipto said shaft, a displaceable unitary lock element movably supported tolie between said shaft and said arcuate wall surface and define a radialspan therebetween, means carried by said shaft and engaging said lockelement to effect displacement thereof into locking engagement with saidwall surface in response to angular rotation of said shaft relatively tosaid lock element in either direction, and a valve-operating membermovable into simultaneous engagement with said shaft and said lockelement to effect contemporaneous selective angular rotation thereof,whereby to prevent displacement of said lock element into said lockingengagement.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein a portion ofsaid lock element extends radially between said shaft and said wallsurface during said contemporaneous rotation.
 3. A combination asdefined in claim 2, wherein said means decreases said radial span inresponse to said relative rotation of said shaft.
 4. A combination asdefined in claim 3, wherein said means comprises a camming surfacecarried by said shaft and engaging one end of said lock element.
 5. Acombination as defined in claim 5, wherein said shaft is cylindrical andsaid camming surface is provided by a noncylindrical area on said shaft.6. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said noncylindrical areais a first planar surface and said one end of said lock element presentsa second planar surface abutting said first planar surface.
 7. Acombination as defined in claim 6, wherein the other end of said lockelement presents an arcuate surface conforming to said arcuate wallsurface.
 8. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said portion ofsaid lock element extends nonradially between said shaft and said wallsurface in respoNse to displacement by said means.
 9. A combination asdefined in claim 1, including a drive arm provided on said shaft forrotation therewith and extending radially therefrom into the path ofmovement of said valve operating member.
 10. A combination as defined inclaim 9, wherein said lock element overlies said drive arm and iscoincident therewith.
 11. A combination as defined in claim 10, whereinsaid valve-operating member is provided with projecting leg portionsstraddling said drive arm and said lock element.
 12. A combination asdefined in claim 11, wherein said valve-operating member is rotatablymounted in said sleeve coaxially of said shaft.